Programme Theme

The programme is intended to stimulate interaction between applied mathematicians, biologists and physicists who frequently encounter dynamical problems that have some explicit or implicit topological content. We use the term 'topological' to convey the idea of structures, e.g. knots, links or braids in 3D, that exhibit some measure of invariance under continuous deformation. Dynamical evolution is then subject to the topological constraints that express this invariance. A basic common problem is to determine minimum energy structures (and routes towards these structures) permitted by such constraints; and to explore mechanisms, e.g.diffusive, by which such constraints may be broken.

When formulated in terms of the mathematical objects and issues, the current view of the common topological denominator is summarised below. We expect to add to this list during the Programme.